Biswa Ijtema in Feb as conflict ends

The Biswa Ijtema will be held in February because the factions in Tabligh Jamaat have resolved their conflict over the congregation, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said, report agencies.
He made the announcement after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the leaders of the two factions within the Sunni organisation on Wednesday.
The Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after the Hajj, was postponed after the two factions announced different schedules in December last year.
"They have resolved their differences, leaving behind all resentment. They will organise the Ijtema together in February. Representatives from both sides will meet the state minister for religious affairs tomorrow to fix the dates," he told reporters at the ministry.
The Biswa Ijtema is organised on the banks of river Turag at Tongi in January every year, but conflict between the factions last year forced a postponement by authorities.
Two factions of the Tabligh Jamaat -- one led by Maulana Wasekh and other by Moulana Zubair-were present at the meeting where everyone spoke openly and it came out successful, he added.
"But how and when the gathering will be held will be decided in another meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs at 10:30 am," he added.
Responding to a question from a journalist, the minister said that a decision was made that Maulana Saad of India would not join Ijtema this time.
When asked about how many phases of the Ijtema will be held this year, the minister said, "It will also be decided in tomorrow's meeting."
Meanwhile, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah said that Ijtema would be held once in a year and unitedly.
"No separate Ijtema will be held. The clashes those happened across the country are not desirable at all," he added.
The first phase of Biswa Ijtem was scheduled to be held from January 11-13 while the second one from January 18-20. But it was not held as per the schedule due to the 11th parliamentary election.
Tabligh is now the largest organisation of Sunni Muslims in the Indian subcontinent with its headquarters, referred to as the Markaz, in New Delhi.